Reed On The Greens
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com
February 25, 2016
There’s good news for the Junior Tyson Tour during its 49th season: it’s alive and well, despite reported controversy both on and off the golf course.
At its recent board of directors meeting, the entire board resigned, according to long-time convenor Andy Shaw. The Dorchester Golf Club owner said he and his father-in-law Mike Olizarevitch, the former long-time Fanshawe Golf Club head pro; City of London municipal golf manager Steve Bennett of Thames Valley Golf Club; Mike Silver, long-time pro at Highland Country Club; and Rob Mason, general manager at St. Thomas Golf and Country Club, all resigned.
But now that the air has cleared, Bennett has taken over as convenor, and is working feverishly to take the reins from Shaw and put things in place for 2016.
It appears it will be business as usual for the Tyson Tour, but not without some last-minute jockeying.
“I expressed at our last board meeting a lack of support I was getting from the other board directors,” explained Shaw. “I wasn’t getting any support from them at all. In fact, the only time I would ever see them throughout the year was at the board meeting. I was getting nowhere with them.
“I think it’s just time to maybe allow someone else to start managing it. It’s got to be a team effort,” Shaw added. “I got zero help with that tour for 15 years. Zero.”
Bennett, meanwhile, denied resigning from the board. Now as convenor, he said yesterday that he is very close to confirming all dates and golf courses for the 2016 season, which will include a new Pee Wee loop to compete at the Hickory 9 at Thames Valley July 16 and 31, and wrapping up (ironically) at Dorchester.
“It’s Steve Bennett, and my staff assisting” said Bennett of Tyson Tour operations this year. “The Pee Wee (competition) will be great for the kids, instead of going out on the big course and shooting 130 at Highland, for example. It will be a good place for them to start.”
The Hickory 9 is a par-32 course playing at 2,057 and 2,270 yards.
Bennett is also currently revamping the tour website, as well as securing sponsors. In recent years, Tim Hortons left as a major sponsor. Shaw said he had a title sponsor lined up for $5,000 per year for three years, which would provide the tour’s annual bursaries for golfers. But Shaw said the board gave this initiative a thumbs down since it would have involved a name change for the tour.
Bennett wouldn’t comment on board juggling, but agreed with Shaw that Silver simply resigned after serving for many years, and that Olizarevitch left in support of Shaw. Mason did not contact LondonOntarioGolf.com for comment.
However, it appears there are other concerns on the golf course which need to be addressed, according to Shaw. He cited issues with individual golf courses not knowing the Tyson Tour rules and regulations, and not filling their roles as tournament overseers.
“I’ve had to go and fix things at various golf courses … where they didn’t even have kids off the right tees. They had them scattered all over the place. I had to actually go out on the course and move the tees around, tell groups what tees they’re playing, moments before the shotgun,” said Shaw.
In a recent interview with LondonOntarioGolf.com, Alan McLean, teaching professional at Forest City National Golf Club, raised concerns about a Tyson Tour event there in 2015.
“One of my biggest disappointments last year was, we had the Tyson Tour event. I was so looking forward to seeing all of the youngsters here. But what a piss poor performance,” said McLean.
“The kids arrived, and not one of the organizers was here. It was left up to us to get the kids out. It was just so poorly run. There were kids just dropping balls out of the bush,” McLean said.
“This is the problem,” answered Shaw. “The golf courses are supposed to run their event (according to the rules).” Shaw said with the Golf Association of Ontario no longer overseeing on-site rules and regulations during Tyson Tour events, then it’s up to the individual clubs to keep an eye on the competitors. He said for the most part, this is not the case.
Shaw cited another issue with tournament operations in recent years.
“Playoffs for ties are supposed to be closest to the pin. I show up (at an event) and ask, is it done? (I’m told) ‘Well, there’s a playoff, they’re going down the third hole.’ I say, didn’t you read the rules? You’re supposed to be doing a closest to the hole.”
While no golf tour offers perfect solutions, especially when run with a small volunteer army, there is always room for improvement – something Bennett said he will work hard to accomplish this season. He said he will also shore up media relations, something which was severely lacking in 2015.
Tyson Tour Continues To Make History
The golf industry will always experience ebbs and flows, but in London and Southwestern Ontario the Tyson Tour has for 49 years provided area junior golfers – the future of the game – with the perfect setting for learning lessons of a lifetime.
Shaw defined the Tyson Tour as “a place people can learn to play, get tournament experience and enhance their competitive spirit.”
In 2015, there were a total of 12 competitive rounds for the Tyson Tour, including the annual two-day Les Thomas Memorial Tournament, and the season-ending invitational at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club.
There were 14 events prior to the 2012 season – the tour once maxed out at 17 events. But Shaw said rather than have some weaker tournaments, scheduling fewer events ensures there will be consistent solid fields.
Last year, enrollment numbers were down to 180, with only 12 girls, said Bennett. Almost 300 kids competed in 2014. But this year, with a new Pee Wee division – and no charge for registration (a new initiative) – he expects the field to be stronger.
Thames Valley GC’s Steve Bennett with master craftsman Bob Vokey. Photo courtesy Titleist.
Mike Weir captured back-to-back Les Thomas tourneys in 1986-87. Weir said, “I had a great experience. It’s a great tour. I know it’s still going strong. It’s done really well.”
The Tyson Tour is steeped in history. It was founded in 1968 by former London Free Press sports writer, Bev Tyrrell. Tyson comes from the Ty in Tyrrell; the son part comes from his twin sons, Tim and Tom. Former Thames Valley Golf Club head pro Fred Kern operated the tour from 1974 until 2002.
Tyson Tour competitors are well aware of the unique opportunities provided to them. Kayleigh Trowman, 17, whose parents, Mark and Sue, own and operate The Bluffs Golf Club in Port Stanley, captured the intermediate girls title in 2013 and jumped to the junior girls division in 2014. She gave up golf at an early age, but thanks in part to the Tyson Tour she has a new-found love of the game.
“It’s a great opportunity. You can play courses that you’ve never been able to try before. There are a lot of private courses. And it’s just a great way to go out and meet people who have the same interest in golf as you do, and have a fun time,” Trowman said.
Bennett said he will soon have information on registration, as well as confirmed dates. For a sixth straight year in 2016, trophies will again be presented to each division winner at each event.
As Shaw passes the baton to Bennett, it appears the Tyson Tour is, indeed, alive and well for 2016, with its 50th Anniversary season just around the corner. And this is important – not only for local golf, but for Canadian golf as a whole.
The Junior Tyson Tour is one of, if not the, top junior loops in Canada. It has been a breeding ground for golf, and for helping youngsters acquire traits involving honesty, integrity, good sportsmanship and perseverance. Under Shaw, the Tour continued to do this. Now it’s up to Bennett and staff, and a dedicated volunteer base, to continue with the legacy.
Watch for updates at www.juniortysontour.com.
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